Scheduled NASCAR testing for the 2013 season:
Dec. 11-12 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Jan. 10-12 at Daytona International Speedway
Jan. 17-18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Apr. 1-2 at Richmond International Raceway
May 7 at Sonoma Raceway
May 14-15 at Michigan International Speedway

Kurt Busch, Trevor Bayne to test at MIS on May 14-15: NASCAR’s new Gen-6 Car has drawn rave reviews from drivers and fans alike after the first 10 races in 2013. On May 14-15, the car will make its debut at Michigan International Speedway when two teams conduct a test. And fans are invited to watch free of charge. Speedway officials will open the Turn One grandstands from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. May 14 and May 15 to watch testing. So far, #78-Kurt Busch and #21-Trevor Bayne are the only drivers schedule to test those days. “It will be exciting to finally see the Gen 6 Car at Michigan International Speedway,” track President Roger Curtis said. “We became NASCAR’s fastest track in 2012 during the Quicken Loans 400. So far in 2013, the new cars have been posting record qualifying speeds so it will be fun to see how fast they go here.”
Last year, Marcos Ambrose posted a track qualifying mark of 203.241 mph for the Quicken Loans 400. That speed was the 11th-fastest pole-winning speed in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history and the first time the pole winning speed was faster than 200 mph at a track other than Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. pulled into victory lane for his first win since June of 2008, also at MIS. Testing times, track schedule and drivers are subject to change due to weather or other circumstances. Fans are asked to park in Lot 10 off US 12 and enter the grandstands through Gate 17, just behind the water tower. The restroom facilities will be open. Fans are also allowed to bring in coolers that meet the MIS grandstand gate policies for any race weekend. MIS is once again host to a pair of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 2013. The top series comes to the Irish Hills for the Quicken Loans 400 on Sunday, June 16 and returns just two short months later for the Pure Michigan 400 on Sunday, August 18. Tickets are on sale at MISpeedway.com or by phone at 800-354-1010.(MIS)(5-7-2013)

Ambrose, Almirola Set to Test at Sonoma, May 7th: Race fans will be treated to a FREE NASCAR test session and also get a sneak peek at some tasty new food options on Tuesday, May 7, at Sonoma Raceway. The test will also mark the debut of the new NASCAR Gen-6 car in Sonoma. Richard Petty Motorsports will visit the road course for a two-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test with #9-Marcos Ambrose and #43-Aric Almirola in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 21-23. This will be the first time the new Gen-6 NASCAR stock car will lay tracks on the Sonoma Valley road course. Ambrose claimed the pole in Sonoma last year and nearly took the checkers in 2010 before a late-race stall cost him the victory. In addition to the great on-track action, fans can also preview the raceway’s newest concession concept, the Sears Point Grill. Located at the north-end of the main grandstand, the Sears Point Grill will feature handmade burgers, locally-sourced sausages and other savory grilled items. Three Sears Point Grill locations will open officially during NASCAR race weekend, but fans can purchase food and drinks near the main grandstand during the test session from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. A press conference and fan event with the drivers will be held at the Sears Point Grill during the lunch break at approximately 12:15 p.m., and fans are welcome to attend. Fans can also test their skills with Grand Prix Karting in front of the Simraceway Driving Performance Center during the test session. Karting will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday in front of the racing school and is free for attendees. Testing will span from approximately 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fans who purchase tickets to the Toyota/Save Mart 350 during the test on May 7 can save up to $50 on a special NASCAR ticket package. Tickets for NASCAR’s 25th annual visit to the Sonoma Valley are also available at 800-870-RACE (7223) or racesonoma.com/nascar. Great options are still available, including the all-new NASCAR Express train package, Save Mart 2-Pack and more.(Sonoma Raceway)(5-2-2013)

Testing the new car at Richmond UPDATE dates changed: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #1-Jamie McMurray, #43-Aric Almirola and #9-Marcos Ambrose are scheduled to be testing the new Gen-6 car on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at Richmond International Raceway in advance of the Saturday, April 27, Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Tickets for the Toyota Owners 400 can be purchased online at www.rir.com or by calling 866-455-7223.(RIR), the test is closed and NOT open to the public.(3-22-2013)
UPDATE: the testing has been moved to Monday and Tuesday, April 1-2.(RIR)(3-25-2013)
UPDATE 2: Although the much-anticipated debut of NASCAR's Gen-6 car in a points-paying race at Richmond International Raceway is scheduled for the Saturday, April 27, Toyota Owners 400 Sprint Cup Series race, the first time it hits the pavement will be this Monday. Earnhardt Ganassi drivers Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya will be joined by Richard Petty Motorsports drivers Marcos Ambrose and Aric Almirola when they test at RIR, and the grandstands are open for fans to watch, for free. The test is scheduled for Monday, April 1. The Colonial Grandstands in Turn 4 will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., free of charge. With many kids on Spring Break, this is a great opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled afternoon in Richmond. Fans coming out to Richmond International Raceway may enter at the Service Gate, located on Meadowbridge Rd., one gate away from the main entrance at the corner of Laburnum Ave. and Meadowbridge Rd. Attendants will guide fans to a parking area and will be instructed where to go to enter the grandstands.(RIR)(3-28-2013)
UPDATE 3: Four NASCAR drivers turned laps at Richmond International Raceway during a test session Monday, marking the first time NASCAR's Gen-6 car has run at America's Premier Short Track. #42-Juan Montoya, #1-Jamie McMurray, #9-Marcos Ambrose and #43-Aric Almirola will be back Saturday, April 27, for the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Cool track temperatures this morning made it easy for the drivers to find grip, resulting in blistering speeds that would challenge the official track qualifying record, which Brian Vickers set in 2004 (20.772 seconds, 129.983 mph). "The track is extremely fast," said Almirola. "When we rolled out on the track at 9:00 this morning, it was still kinda cool and the track had a lot of grip. We were running lap times close to the pole speed in race trim. Really surprised at how fast the track was and how fast our cars were." All four drivers will test again tomorrow at RIR, as they search for valuable data to be used at the upcoming April 25, 26 & 27 NASCAR weekend in Richmond.(RIR)(4-2-2013)

Charlotte Motor Speedway testing is over: After getting rained out on Thursday, then an almost four hour delay, due to a wet track/ice melting on Friday, the Sprint Cup Series finally got some testing done at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The test ran from 12:45 - 7:30pm/et. 33 cars ran laps.
#43-Almirola was the fastest at 194.021mph [faster then the track record] then #99-Edwards, #13-Mears, #9-Ambrose, #48-Johnson, #55-Martin, #16-Biffle, #56-Truex Jr., #15-Bowyer & #17-Stenhouse Jr. #11-McDowell (subbing for Hamlin) ran the most laps with 204, followed by #18-Busch (156) and #22-Logano (139). #95-Speed was the slowest of the 33 drivers/cars at 186.968 and ran the least amount of laps at 41.
AND More than 2,000 fans braved the chilly January temperatures to watch more than 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers take to the track in the rain-shortened sixth-generation car test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At the end of the day, Richard Petty Motorsports’ driver Aric Almirola turned the fastest lap of 27.832 seconds at 194.021 mph. Carl Edwards (27.882 seconds at 193.673 mph) and Casey Mears (27.924 seconds at 193.382 mph) clocked the second and third fastest laps respectively, with Marcos Ambrose (27.938 seconds at 193.285 mph) and Jimmie Johnson (28.009 seconds at 192.795 mph) rounding out the top five. During a morning delay, Roush Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle told media the time on the track was important to provide teams invaluable information about the new cars. “We’ve tested a few times with a composite body and not all of the latest rules, but this is really it for us,” he said. “We needed these two days to really figure out what the car is gonna end up like. Hopefully, we can test into the evening and it won’t get too cold too fast because I’d rather stay as long as we can and get as much information as we can, versus having to pack this whole show up and go somewhere else again, or come back later.”(CMS)
See fastest speeds and laps run on the Charlotte Test Speeds page.(1-18-2013)

Charlotte Motor Speedway cancelled for Thursday: Day 1 of the two-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at Charlotte Motor Speedway was canceled due to rain at the track and an inpending winter storm and more rain in the forecast. Forecast for the Charlotte/Concord, NC area are for 100% rain Thursday, January 17th. Plus there is a winter storm apporaching the Charlotte area which could bring some snow and/or ice. The test on Friday will be extended 90 minutes: 9:00am-12:30pm/et and 1:00-5:00pm/et. Testing will NOT be extended to Saturday.(1-17-2013)

NASCAR tests at Kennedy Space Center: Research and development teams from Richard Childress Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing have discovered the NASA Shuttle Landing Facility just south of Daytona on Merritt Island in Brevard County — part of the Kennedy Space Center. The 15,000-foot concrete runway, built for the Space Shuttle landing in 1984, is ideal for straight-line testing — where teams gather aerodynamic data. It’s also more economically feasible than transporting cars from North Carolina to the proving grounds in Arizona. “We use the landing strip at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral just because it’s a long, smooth straightaway, and it’s warm, so in the wintertime you can test there with pretty controlled conditions,” Richard Childress Racing director of competition Dr. Eric Warren said. “You work out a relationship with those guys and pay for the use of the facilities — like any other testing facility. They have their own on-site emergency crews, so the safety side of it is really nice. It’s closer (than Arizona). The weather is warmer, and it’s a great wintertime alternative to going to places out West. Most of them are ovals and the straight-line facilities are up north — around Michigan and the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). We can do two straight-line segments there — as far as coast down. This place has plenty of distance.”(FoxSports)(1-13-2013)

2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder - Day 3, afternoon: Single runs continued in the Day 3 afternoon session of Daytona Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway, the final day of testing at DIS. #16-Biffle was the fastest at 194.936mph, the fastest single car run of the three-day test. #20-Kenseth was 2nd fastest followed by #18-Busch, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #42-Montoya, #39-Newman, #99-Edwards, #14-Stewart, #10-Patrick, #48-Johnson; 11th was #21-Bayne, #13-Mears, #17-Stenhouse Jr., #38-Wise and #83-Kvapil/Reutimann. 15 cars made runs in the afternoon session. There were no incidents.
See speeds, number of laps run, best 10 consecutive lap ave and more on the Daytona Testing Speeds - Day 3 afternoon session speeds page pdf.(1-12-2013)

2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder - Day 3, morning: Single runs continued in the Day 3 morning session of Daytona Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway, the final day of testing at DIS. #20-Kenseth was the fastest at 194.062mph followed by #21-Bayne, #10-Patrick, #27-Menard, #14-Stewart, #33-Dillon, #31-Burton, #16-Biffle, #18-Busch and #39-Newman. 21 teams/drivers tested in the morning session. Reports have the following teams leaving after the morning session: #78-Busch, #27-Manard, #29-Harvick, #31-Burton, #33-Dillon.
See speeds, number of laps and more on the Daytona Testing Speeds - Day 3 morning session speeds page pdf.(1-12-2013)

2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder - Day 2, afternoon: Drafting runs in packs of as many of 20 cars were done for the first hour of practice with #21-Bayne being the fastest in the pack with a speed of 199.850mph. But about an hour into the drafting test, #9-Ambrose was 2nd in the pack with #88-Earnhardt Jr. behind the #9. The #9 got loose or came down and the #88 tapped the #9, spinning the #9. #1-McMurray hit the #9 and spun, collecting #2-Keselowski, #5-Kahne, #18-Busch, #22=Logano, #43-Almirola, #51-Smith and #99-Edwards; a total of 10 cars. After the wreck, no one else. Testing still has three hours to go, the drivers/cars left, will continue to test, probably single car runs, but there will be 8-10 less cars testing.
SPEEDS fastest in the afternoon session was #21-Bayne at 199.650mph followed by #22-Logano, #56-Truex Jr,, #55-Martin, #99-Edwards, #43-Almirola, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #16-Biffle, #18-Busch and #13-Mears. The first 22 cars drafted. #29-Harvick was the fastest in single car runs at 193.150mph.
See speeds, number of laps and more on the Daytona Testing Speeds - Day 2 afternoon session speeds page pdf.(1-11-2013)

2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder - Day 2, morning: Single runs continued in the Day 2 morning session of Daytona Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway. #31-Burton was the fastest at 194.805mph followed by #29-Harvick, #27-Menard, #20-Kenseth, #16-Biffle, #18-Busch, #78-Busch, #9-Ambrose, #10-Patrick and #33-Dillon. 34 teams/drivers tested on Friday. #83-Kvapil joined the test and #11-Hamlin is not testing Friday/Saturday. Darafting testing is expected in the Day 2 afternoon session for some drivers/team. #36-Blaney wrecked midway thru the AM practice, doing damage to the right front of the car. Tommy Baldwin Racing didn't have a backup and will not test anymore on Friday/Saturday.
See speeds, number of laps and more on the Daytona Testing Speeds - Day 2 morning session speeds page pdf.(1-11-2013)

2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder - Day 1, afternoon: Speeds picked up a bit as four drivers ran in a draft late in the afternoon session in the day 1 of Daytona Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway. #11-Hamlin was the fastest in the 4-car pack at 195.712mph, followed by #20-Kenseth, #18-Gibbs and #55-Martin. The rest of the cars were single car runs with #31-Burton fastest (5th overall) at 194.620 then #27-Menard, #10-Patrick, #9-Ambrose, #15-Bowyer and #43-Almarola. 34 teams/drivers tested on Thursday. See speeds, nymber of laps and more on the Daytona Testing Speeds - Day 1 afternoon session speeds page pdf.(1-10-2013)

2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder - Day 1, morning speeds: #20-Matt Kenseth was the fastest in the day 1 morning session of Daytona Preseason Thunder. Kenseth ran a fast lap of 192.757mph in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. 34 cars made single lap runs at Daytona International Speedway. Team did not run in packs or do any drafting. #9-Ambrose was 2nd fastest, followed by #10-Patrick, #31-Burton, #27-Menard, #15-Bowyer, #18-Busch, #24-Gordon, #42-Montoya and #33-Dillon. See speeds, nymber of laps and more on the Daytona Testing Speeds - Day 1 morning session speeds page pdf, see images of some cars testing on my 2013 Manufacturer News and Images page.(1-10-2013)

35 teams testing at Daytona: NASCAR fans will get their first glimpse of the new sixth-generation NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars on the storied Daytona International Speedway for three days this week at Preseason Thunder, the unofficial on-track start of the 2013 NASCAR season. This week's sessions will be the only test for the new car at Daytona prior to Speedweeks, which begins with The Sprint Unlimited on Feb. 16 and culminates with the 55th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.
"This test is an opportunity for the teams to prepare their cars for Speedweeks and the 55th running of the Daytona 500," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "This is the teams' test and provides an excellent lead in to the upcoming 2013 season. There has been a lot of work put into the development of the Gen-6 car by the manufacturers, teams and NASCAR. It will be exciting to see the new cars on the track for Daytona Preseason Thunder."
After several tests for the new car, including one restrictor plate test at Talladega Superspeedway, the rules package has been set heading into Preseason Thunder.
The rules package for Daytona includes:
• Plate size - 29/32" (same plate size as 2012)
• Spoiler size - 4" high x 53" wide
• Spoiler angle - 70 degrees
• Front Grille size - 1-3/4" high x 23" wide
• Radiator Relief valve - 32 psi
Teams participating in the test are:

Car #	Team Name	Driver
1	Earnhardt Ganassi Racing	Jamie McMurray
2	Penske Racing	Brad Keselowski
5	Hendrick Motorsports	Kasey Kahne
9	Richard Petty Motorsports	Marcos Ambrose
10	Stewart Haas Racing	Danica Patrick
11	Joe Gibbs Racing	Denny Hamlin
13	Germain Racing	Casey Mears
14	Stewart Haas Racing	Tony Stewart
15	Michael Waltrip Racing	Clint Bowyer
16	Roush Fenway Racing	Greg Biffle
17	Roush Fenway Racing	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
18	Joe Gibbs Racing	Kyle Busch
20	Joe Gibbs Racing	Matt Kenseth
21	Wood Bros Racing	Trevor Bayne
22	Penske Racing	Joey Logano
24	Hendrick Motorsports	Jeff Gordon
27	Richard Childress Racing	Paul Menard
29	Richard Childress Racing	Kevin Harvick
31	Richard Childress Racing	Jeff Burton
33	Circle Sport / Joe Falk	Austin Dillon
36	Tommy Baldwin Racing	Dave Blaney
38	Front Row Motorsports	Josh Wise
39	Stewart Haas Racing	Ryan Newman
42	Earnhardt Ganassi Racing	Juan Pablo Montoya
43	Richard Petty Motorsports	Aric Almirola
47	JTG-Daugherty Racing	Bobby Labonte
48	Hendrick Motorsports	Jimmie Johnson
51	Phoenix Racing	Regan Smith
55	Michael Waltrip Racing	Mark Martin
56	Michael Waltrip Racing	Martin Truex
78	Furniture Row Racing	Kurt Busch
83	BK Racing	Travis Kvapil/David Reutimann
88	Hendrick Motorsports	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
95	Leavine Family Racing	Scott Speed
99	Roush Fenway Racing	Carl Edwards

(1-8-2013)

2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder Dates: Daytona Preseason Thunder, the annual three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session at Daytona International Speedway in advance of the prestigious season-opening 55th annual Daytona 500, will be held on Jan. 10-12. The test sessions mark the first time the new 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars, which highlight greater brand identity for the manufacturers, will turn laps on Daytona International Speedway's 2.5-mile tri-oval. The new-look cars will conduct test sessions between 9am and 5pm each day, weather permitting. Each session includes a lunch break from 12noon until 1pm.
Race fans can also rev up their new year at the Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest – the companion event to the January test sessions. Along with watching Daytona Preseason Thunder track activity from the Sprint FANZONE, fans can enjoy Fan Fest on Thursday, Jan. 10 from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm.
The schedule of driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions will be finalized closer to the event. Tickets for the Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, which include autograph session wristbands, will be available for purchase at a later date. For fans who would like to be contacted regarding Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest ticket information can sign up online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com/thunder. Fans can also watch each day's testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands. Information on tickets for both the Daytona Preseason Thunder and the Roar Before The Rolex 24 will be available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(11-7-2012)

Two test dates added at Charlotte: Preparations for the rollout of the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car continue with a great deal of excitement and NASCAR has secured two additional dates at Charlotte Motor Speedway – Dec. 11-12 and Jan. 17-18 – as an option for those teams that want to supplement their new car testing schedule. These tests do not count against a team's 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing allotment. NASCAR announced last month that beginning in 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will be permitted to conduct up to four tests per organization at tracks that host series events. "We've put together an aggressive and extensive testing schedule for the new car and we are pleased with how things are progressing," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. "We have the opportunity to provide teams with a couple more optional test dates at a mile and half race track as we look to provide the most exciting and competitive racing that we possibly can. The Daytona Preseason Thunder testing will give teams the chance to prepare their cars for Speedweeks and the running of the Daytona 500. The new car has generated a lot of excitement and anticipation and we're looking forward to seeing it in competition next year."(NASCAR)(11-7-2012)

Teams complete 2013 car test at Talladega: Redesigned race cars that will debut next season in the 55th running of the Daytona 500 got its first taste of restrictor plate racing today as seven teams put the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car through its paces at Talladega Superspeedway. Teams tested the 2013 model, which will highlight greater brand identity for the series' manufacturers, searching for data on aerodynamics, cooling and drivability. The new-look cars turned competitive laps while drafting and in single-car runs. NASCAR officials, who also analyzed engine restrictor plates and drafting performance, were pleased with the early results. "With a different car, we'll look at what it's going to take for [restrictor] plate size and some other things, but the main concern is how the cars draft, how they react in the draft, and obviously to get more one-on-one racing," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "All of the input that we have from the drivers and the teams so far has been pretty good." Today's six-hour test was extended by 30 minutes after morning fog delayed some teams' arrival.(NASCAR)(10-3-2012)

2013 car test at Talladega: #31-Jeff Burton will be one of the drivers taking part in Wednesday's test of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car at Talladega Superspeedway. Seven teams will be at the test, with Burton representing Richard Childress Racing. With this being the first test of the new car on a restrictor-plate track, Burton believes one of the keys will be to see if drivers can avoid the nose-to-tail tandem style of drafting. With the new body styles for Chevy, Ford and Toyota, the test is an opportunity to see if the cars even have the ability to draft in tandem. Along with Hendrick Motorsports' #5-Kasey Kahne and Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing's #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, Burton will be driving Chev's new SS entry around the high banks of Talladega. #22-Sam Hornish Jr. will help in Penske Racing's off-season transition to Ford by driving one of the new Fusions in the test. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who will drive the # 17 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing next year, also will be at Wednesday's session. Toyota will be represented by Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing with drivers #20-Joey Logano and #55-Brian Vickers scheduled to be behind the wheel, respectively. Wednesday's session will be open to the public and will run from 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (CT). Seating will be located on the backstretch in Section Y of the Allison Grandstands. Fans can park in Lot 6E and enter the grandstands through gate P-22.(Motor Racing Network)(10-3-2012)

NASCAR relaxes testing policy for next year: For the first time since 2008, NASCAR will allow Sprint Cup organizations to test independently at tracks that host events in NASCAR's top three touring series. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition said Saturday at Dover International Speedway that each Cup organization -- regardless of how many cars it fields -- will be allowed four tests of its choosing at NASCAR tracks. "It's up to them to pick where they want to go," Pemberton said. "We feel like it's time to open that up and allow the teams to manage their testing and get back on facilities that host our events. You'll see that as the year unfolds, that teams will be moving around the countryside." The four tests allocated to each organization next year are in addition to the Preseason Thunder test to be conducted by NASCAR during the second week of January.(NASCAR Wire Service)(9-29-2012)

Dodge will skip first test for 2013 cars: While Dodge has a car approved for 2013, it will skip the first tire test for the 2013 car next week at Martinsville Speedway. Dodge is still looking for teams to campaign its 2013 Dodge Charger in Sprint Cup. Its only manufacturer-backed team, Penske Racing, announced in March that it would switch to Ford. Since that announcement, Dodge has continued to meet all the deadlines and work on its 2013 body despite not having a team signed for 2013. "Earlier this week, NASCAR announced that all four manufacturers have met the necessary targets for their 2013 Sprint Cup Series race cars," said Beth Paretta, director of marketing and operations for the SRT Brand and Motorsports. Due to the lack of time to prepare for the on-track test for the 2013 cars scheduled next week at Martinsville, we have elected to forgo that test opportunity." Scheduled to test the cars next week are #29-Kevin Harvick and #48-Jimmie Johnson in Chevrolets, #99-Carl Edwards in a Ford and #56-Martin Truex Jr. in a Toyota. Even though it will miss this test, there will be plenty of tests for Dodge to participate in and get ready for 2013 if it signs teams to run its cars.(Sporting News)(8-2-2012)

NASCAR schedules tests for 2013 cars: Fans can watch: Cup teams will have the 2013 model for an Aug. 7-8 test at Martinsville Speedway that is aimed at rules tweaks to make the cars lighter and help Goodyear develop tires with more grip to improve racing. The 2013 car also will be tested Oct. 4 at Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 9-10 at Texas Motor Speedway and Oct. 18 at Kansas Speedway. Dodge is taking part in the tests. The manufacturer hasn't announced any replacements for Penske Racing, which will join Ford next year.(USA Today)(8-1-2012)
UPDATE: Martinsville Speedway's grandstands will be open to fans free-of-charge for an August 7 and 8 NASCAR Sprint Cup Goodyear tire test at the historic half-mile oval. The test will feature the new 2013 Sprint Cup cars. The test session will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with an hour break at noon. Gates will open at 8 a.m. each of the two days and will remain open until 5 p.m. Restrooms will be open both days, but concession stands will not be operating. Fans may bring refreshments into the grandstands.(Martinsville Speedway)(8-4-2012)

Some testing could return in 2013: Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said NASCAR also is talking to teams about adding testing [not just tire testing] in 2013. The governing body eliminated open testing a few years ago to keep the playing field level at a time when smaller teams couldn't afford to test as often as the big teams. But with the economy turning around and teams testing at non-sanctioned tracks anyway, Pemberton said there's a good chance NASCAR will schedule tests at a few sanctioned tracks.(ESPN)(7-27-2012)

NASCAR considers loosening testing ban: With a new Sprint Cup car coming in 2013 and an effort afoot to improve the product on the track, NASCAR is looking to add additional tests to next year's schedule. The current testing ban was announced at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2008 for the following season as part of the sanctioning body's effort at cost containment. Since then, testing has picked up as Goodyear rolls out new tire combinations for existing tracks or after tracks were repaved. However, NASCAR is now considering lightening the ban - if it's amenable to teams. Adding five to seven test dates was one of several topics that have been broached with team "business types," according to vice president of competition Robin Pemberton. "We told them there's a bunch of things we're looking at for next year exactly the way we look at everything at this time of the year, whether it's the testing policies and things like that," Pemberton said. "If they felt like they could talk to their principal parties — if it came up or any ideas that they would be open to or not open to — so we can prepare for 2013." Pemberton says the testing policy is one of the "most reviewed" programs in NASCAR. It's of concern because of a desire to "help maintain a competitive balance in the garage area" without watching the teams go broke in the process.(Fox Sports)(6-2-2012)

2013 cars to be tested at Homestead: All four 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car models are scheduled to be tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway February 1st…in a test that will apparently be closed. That may be the first time crewmen get to see all four models. Why is NASCAR, and its big marketing operation, taking such seemingly a low-keyed approach? Apparently because the sanctioning body has not yet 'aero-matched' the four models in the wind tunnel. Ford is billing its new model as a Fusion (not Mustang, as once planned), and when the car maker officially unveiled its 2013 street version, it was then free to take the wraps off the NASCAR version – which is decidedly different from the current Sprint Cup model, the still controversial and not greatly liked by many car-of-tomorrow. Chevrolet, for example, still hasn't officially named its model for its 2013 NASCAR Cup racer.(MikeMulhern.net)(1-25-2012)